Manchester United have completed the £71million signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford on a five-year contract.
United confirmed the deal which includes a fixed fee of £65m with £6m in potential add-ons. Mbeumo has signed until June 2030 with the option for the club to extend his contract by another 12 months.
The club are understood to be delighted to have secured their second big transfer target for the summer before leaving on pre-season tour to the US on Tuesday, after landing Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m. Sources believe it offers further evidence of the club’s football-first policy paying off and United still being able to attract big names.
Mbeumo, 25, made it clear that he only wanted to join United even though he came under pressure from Brentford to listen to a rival offer from Tottenham. There was also interest from Arsenal and Newcastle, while Chelsea are believed to have made a late attempt to hijack the deal in the last two weeks of negotiations.
United are said to be unhappy with Brentford for dragging out the talks and changing their valuation – at one stage raising their demand to £70m plus £7m in add-ons. They are also believed to have put pressure on Mbeumo to lower his wage demands so United could offer a larger transfer fee.
There is relief at Old Trafford that they have finally captured a player who has averaged an impressive 18 goal contributions per season since Brentford’s promotion to the top-flight.
Manchester United have completed the £71million signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford
Mbeumo is United’s third summer signing after the arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon
Upon signing his deal, Mbeumo said: ‘As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams’
Mbeumo said: ‘As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams; the team whose shirt I wore growing up. My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday. I know that I have the spirit and character to reach another level here, learning from Ruben Amorim and playing alongside world-class players.
‘Everybody told me about the environment that is being created here and how exciting the plans are for the future. This is a massive club, with an incredible stadium and amazing fans, we are all really determined to challenge for the biggest trophies.’
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, added: ‘Bryan’s goals and assists record in the Premier League is exceptional, his remarkable consistency has put him amongst the most productive players in England for the last three seasons.
‘Bryan’s belief in our project and determination to join the club confirmed that he was the perfect fit for Manchester United and the culture that we are developing. We are delighted to have secured another one of our primary targets ahead of the pre-season tour.
‘The experience in the US will be the perfect opportunity for Bryan to work with Ruben and his new team-mates as we prepare for an exciting season ahead.’
Mbeumo will join his new team-mates on United’s pre-season US tour when the squad flies to Chicago this week. He could get his first opportunity to impress in his new colours on Sunday against West Ham.
He emerged as a top target for United this summer after the club scored just 44 Premier League goals in 2024-25 – their lowest ever single-season tally in the re-branded top flight.
United are said to be unhappy with Brentford for dragging out the talks and changing their valuation
United fended off interest from Tottenham, who are now managed by Mbeumo’s former boss Thomas Frank
United have agreed to pay £65m plus £6m add-ons for Mbeumo in four instalments. Having failed with two bids totalling £55m and £62.5m last month, United made a third attempt on Thursday when they raised their offer to £70m. The final agreement includes an extra £1m in add-ons.
The breakthrough came too late for Mbeumo to have a medical in time to make his United debut in Saturday’s opening pre-season friendly against Leeds in Stockholm, but he will jet to the US.
Mbeumo’s rise began in the youth ranks of Troyes before moving to Brentford in 2019 for £5.8m.
He has since notched up 70 goals in 242 appearances across all competitions for the west London club, 20 of those coming in the Premier League last season.
Given the club’s fragile financial position and the need to offload players before bringing in new signings, United’s summer transfer activity may well end with the signing of Mbeumo.
Mail Sport understands that the only other player being linked with United right now is Ollie Watkins, with Hugo Ekitike set for Liverpool and Viktor Gyokeres poised to join Arsenal.
As for outgoings, the club will listen to offers for Rasmus Hojlund, while Marcus Rashford will join Barcelona on loan.
That leaves Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia on United’s list of players deemed surplus to requirements.
Amorim has now secured his two top targets in the No 10 positions in Mbeumo and Cunha
Mbeumo’s rise began in the youth ranks of Troyes before moving to Brentford for £5.8m
There is relief at Old Trafford that they have finally captured a player who has averaged an impressive 18 goal contributions per season in the Premier League
The Red Devils scored just 44 goals in the Premier League which was the second lowest of any non-relegated side – a record low since the division was rebranded back in 1992.
Last week, meanwhile, Brentford had shared a video of their players returning to training, with Mbeumo present.
The forward appeared in good spirits as he walked in from the car park alone, greeting staff as the last member of the squad to arrive in the video.
